[Telomerase reverse transcriptase protein, TERT, adds telomeric DNA to the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Telomerase contains three subunits: the catalytic subunit TERT, an RNA component TERC, and a non-catalytic protein TEP1. Telomerase preserves chromosome integrity by maintaining telomere length; small amounts of sequence are lost because of incomplete DNA replication. Telomerase adds telomeric repeats to the 3-prime end of a G-rich primer using an RNA template. This enzyme activity is undetectable in most normal cells, but present in immortal cells and cancer tissues. Telomerase activity is an independent prognostic factor in neuroblastoma. MYC, the ubiquitous transcription factor that controls cell proliferation, directly activates transcriptional expression of TERT. (from J Clin Oncol 2000. 18:2582, OMIM 187270 and NCI) ( NCI )]
UMLS (NCI) C0754515Telomere Reverse Transcriptase
TERT
- Amino Acid, Peptide, or Protein
- Enzyme